Flying Foxes Move Top

Leicester City 3 - 0 Millwall

Leicester secured their 12th league victory of the season to move 3 points clear at the top of the Championship table. Two goals from the impressive Vardy and a volley from Lloyd Dyer enough to secure all three points on this occasion. With close rivals Burnley and QPR both losing 2-1 away from home, moving into top spot is a great boost for the Foxes as they approach a busy stage of the season. Tuesday's trip to Sheffield Wednesday will be the first of 8 games in a 30 day period, including of course the week when City face Burnley, Manchester City and QPR. It is a crucial stage of the season and Leicester look to be in good shape.

Today's match was as one-sided a contest as you are likely to see in the Championship. City secured 61% of the possession during the game and managed a staggering 30 shots at goal. Millwall, by contrast, mustered one effort on target in the entire match. After 11 minutes, a clever move from Leicester saw Wasilewski pick out Drinkwater down the right flank. His cross was met by Lloyd Dyer, who controlled his volley well at the edge of the six-yard box and found the back of the net. City had to wait until the second half to double their advantage. 

In the 52nd minute, Jamie Vardy ran almost the entire length of the pitch to thump the ball between Forde's legs. Less than 3 minutes later, Vardy hassled and harried a Millwall defender into making an error. He nipped in, pushed the ball around the keeper and slotted home with his weaker right foot from a tight angle. It was an outstanding performance from Vardy, a player who was much maligned last season. Without doubt, he is currently one of the first names on Nigel Pearson's team sheet. 

Credit to the manager too. His £1m purchase of non-league Vardy has proven to be a brilliant investment. Pearson also stuck by the player after a difficult first season. However, Pearson's greatest achievement is this:- he has lifted his squad from the lowest possible ebb in May to now be sitting proudly at the top of the Championship table just 6 months later. Remarkable. 

Nugent Brace Sinks Ipswich

Ipswich Town 1 - 2 Leicester City

Leicester came from behind at Ipswich this afternoon to secure another away win and move level with Burnley at the top of the Championship table. In the first half, City were atrocious, allowing David McGoldrick to give the hosts the lead in just the second minute. McGoldrick's shot - from outside the box - found the bottom corner and Schmeichel will be disappointed to have been beaten at his near post. The Foxes were rocked by the early goal and weren't able to find any rhythm for the entire first half. Pearson made two changes at half-time, Miquel and James replacing Moore and King. Indeed, James was instrumental in Leicester's second half revival.

Two David Nugent goals in the space of six second half minutes turned the match on its head. In the 51st minute, Vardy's lay-off found Nugent, who delivered a crisp, right footed finish to equalise. Dyer rounded the keeper brilliantly in the 57th minute and squared the ball for Nugent to put City ahead. That goal, Nugent's 13th in 12 visits to Portman Road, was enough to secure all 3 points and send Leicester joint top of the Championship table. Leicester only managed 6 away wins in the whole of last season. Today was their fifth away win of the current campaign - a real indication that, at present, City are on the right track to go one better than they did last season. 

Remembrance Fixture Distinctly Unmemorable

Leicester City 0 - 2 Nottingham Forest

Leicester City's annual Remembrance fixture lived up to its billing, but only in terms of the pre-match ceremony. An RAF helicopter landed on the centre circle before the match to deliver the match ball and   a minute's silence was held before kick-off during which 'The Last Post' was played. Sadly, the match itself was forgettable as far as Foxes fans will be concerned - Nottingham Forest running out 2-0 winners. City never really got out of first gear and, as good as their performance was at Watford last week, this afternoon's display was poor. The only consolation for Leicester is that both Burnley and QPR only managed to draw their respective fixtures, keeping the Foxes in second place in the Championship table.

Nottingham Forest opened the scoring just after the half hour mark. Paterson's shot was blocked and Simon Cox scored from close range. Just before half time, Jamie Mackie doubled the visitors' lead after Drinkwater had cleared Lansbury's initial effort off the line. When Nugent missed a penalty with 20 minutes remaining, it was clear that this was not going to be City's day. The Foxes were largely ineffective, squandering the few chances that they did manage to create. Even 3 second half substitutes did nothing to improve the home side's fortunes. 

Plenty for Nigel Pearson to mull over during the International break. Mind you, he will be used to that this season. This is only Leicester's third defeat of the campaign but all have come in the game immediately preceding the International breaks. For the players, the manager and the fans, it will be a long two weeks.

Fantastic Foxes Wallop Watford

Watford 0 - 3 Leicester City

Leicester thrashed Watford 3-0 at Vicarage Road this afternoon to consolidate second place in the league and secure their best ever start to a league season. It was a superb performance from the Foxes, particularly in the first half. They dominated possession, took an early lead and restricted Watford to very few chances. Nigel Pearson was forced to make two changes to his first choice line-up. Schlupp and Wood replaced the injured Konchesky and Vardy respectively. Both replacements played well, Wood grabbing a goal and Schlupp nullifying the threat of Watford's winger, Anya.

There was an element of fortune about Leicester's opening goal. Watford's keeper Alumina hit a straightforward clearance straight into Chris Wood's face, only for the ball to deflect into the back of the net. City were good value for their 1-0 lead at half-time. Wood and Dyer both had the ball in the net again before the break, only for the linesman to raise the flag for off-side on both occasions. Both calls could have gone either way. Watford had very few clear-cut opportunities in the first half, Schmeichel pulling off an excellent double save from McGugan to deny the hosts their best opportunity to score before the break.

Seven minutes into the second half, Anthony Knockaert doubled Leicester's advantage and banished the memories of his previous visit to Watford in May. On that occasion, City suffered the cruellest defeat imaginable - it was to be a different story today. Schlupp - who turned in a superb performance today - broke clear down the left flank. He slid the ball into Knockaert, who flicked the ball into the air and thumped it into the back of the net. In truth, City rode their luck at times in the second half and Watford missed at least three clear opportunities to score. However, five minutes from time, Lloyd Dyer broke clear to fire a shot low. The ball ricocheted off Almunia and looped into the net. It capped an excellent performance for the Foxes and was no less than they deserved. Indeed, King and Wasilewski both had good opportunities to add a fourth before the final whistle.